Nathan Phillips, 17, of Aptos, was known as one of the smartest students in his class. In December, he went missing for six days until his body was found at the bottom of the ocean. He was six months away from graduating with the Class of 2014.

Tragedy struck Aptos High again on Feb. 25, when a 16-year-old sophomore killed himself on campus. KSBW is not naming the student.

"It's been a shock for us and difficult," Principal Casey O'Brien said Monday. "Some students are trying to understand. Some are in shock. Some are grieving."

Community members, students, and parents raised $10,000 for the sophomore's family to pay for his funeral and burial.

Since the two deaths, the school broadened its student wellness programs so that teens know they have support, alternatives, and resources.

"There are new things happening now because of these tragedies. We're working hard to create a safe, positive place," O'Brien said.

The most recent suicide caused Phillips' friends to relive his death all over again. Some students were friends with both boys. Administrators said they decided against holding one big school assembly because every person mourns in a different way, on a different timeline.

Teen bullying has been a major issue in the news recently, but O'Brien said that was not a factor in the two Aptos suicides.

"We are extremely confident that was not the case," O'Brien said.

O'Brien said he spoke with Phillips one-on-one when he was a freshman because he was dealing with challenges, but his senior year appeared to be going well as he aced his classes.

The 16-year-old boy was also struggling with several issues, the principal said.

"Could we have done more? We are asking those questions big time. But these things did not happen because we were not trying," O'Brien said.

Aptos High is encouraging teens to speak up if they think one of their classmates needs help.

Student body president Kara Jonsson said the students' deaths were a "wakeup call" to lookout for each other.

"The simplest things we can pass by sometimes as human beings, especially here at high school when there is so much going on," Jonsson said.

In the days following the sophomore's death, O'Brien wrote letters to the school's 1,300 students letting them know what happened, and know that Aptos High can help.

"Some teens like (the sophomore) feel so bad due to factors such as depression, addiction, hopelessness, isolation, and family distress that they feel there is no way out," a Feb. 28 letter wrote. "That's why you need support from someone who knows how to help people work through tough situations. A psychologist, counselor, mental health provider, or other trained behavioral health professional can give you that support."

In addition to administrators' efforts, large groups of students have emerged as inspirational leaders. Teens created peer support clubs, including Be The Change, Rise Above, and the Bridge Project.

According to Carly Galarneau, a suicide prevention expert at Family Service Agency of the Central Coast, suicide is the third-leading cause of death for teenagers.

"It may not be they're wanting to actually end their lives. They often are wanting to end the pain that they're feeling," Galarneau said.

The school is holding a community discussion that's open to the public at 6:30 p.m. March 18 in the school's performing arts center.

O'Brien said he wants all Mariners to know, "Every student is important to us."